Right now, more non-dilutive capital is sitting open for Indian founders than at almost any point since Startup India launched from a ₹10,000 crore SIDBI-managed Fund of Funds to a ₹1 crore Karnataka deep-tech grant. Bharat’s founders deserve every rupee of this, but a chunk of it closes within days, so today’s digest is built to help you move fast.
🚨 What’s New Today
The Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FoF 2.0) is now being operationalised, with SIDBI confirmed as an Implementation Agency and a second domestic Implementation Agency being finalised to route the corpus into SEBI-registered AIFs. This is separate from — and additive to — the original ₹10,000 crore FFS that has already backed 900+ startups through 130+ AIFs.
DPIIT also confirmed the February 2026 startup redefinition is now fully in effect: the turnover cap for standard startup recognition has risen from ₹100 crore to ₹200 crore, and a new “Deep Tech Startup” category offers up to 20 years of recognition and a ₹300 crore turnover cap for IP-intensive ventures — a big deal if your startup has outgrown the old thresholds.
On the deadline front, startupgrantsindia.com flags roughly 17 grants, seed funds and competitions closing in the 6–13 July window, including NextUnicorn, Exim Bank, and the 100+ Accelerator — several of these close today, so check status before assuming you have more runway. Separately, DPIIT’s FICCI Mercedes-Benz Bharat Innovation & Business Ideas Challenge just selected 7 startups (from 32 shortlisted, out of a nationwide pool) for ₹30 lakh each plus business support — proof that manufacturing, sustainability and EV-focused founders are getting real attention this cycle.
🏛️ Central Government Schemes (Open Now)
| Scheme | Amount | Who | Apply Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) | Up to ₹20L grant + ₹50L debt | DPIIT-recognised early-stage startups | seedfund.startupindia.gov.in |
| Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (SIDBI) | ₹10,000 Cr corpus (new tranche) | Startups via SEBI-registered AIFs | sidbivcf.in |
| SAMRIDH (MeitY) | Up to ₹40L co-investment | Tech startups via empanelled accelerators | msh.meity.gov.in/schemes/samridh |
| GENESIS (MeitY) | Grants + incubation, targeting 10,000+ startups | Tier-2/3 tech startups, via ~50 Implementing Agencies | msh.meity.gov.in/schemes/genesis |
| TIDE 2.0 (MeitY) | Incubation + seed support | Tech entrepreneurs, ICT/emerging tech | msh.meity.gov.in/schemes/tide |
| BIRAC BIG | Up to ₹50L, milestone-based over 18 months | Biotech/healthtech/agritech startups <5 yrs, at a recognised bio-incubator | birac.nic.in |
| MUDRA Yojana | Up to ₹20L, collateral-free | Micro/small enterprises and early founders | mudra.org.in |
| Stand-Up India | ₹10L to ₹1 Cr | SC/ST and women entrepreneurs | standupmitra.in |
| CGTMSE | Credit guarantee up to ₹20 Cr | MSMEs and startups needing collateral-free credit | cgtmse.in |
| NIDHI Seed Support Scheme (NIDHI-SSS) | Seed funding for validation & commercialisation | Deep-tech startups | nidhi.dst.gov.in — deadline 19 July 2026 |
Note: SISFS cohort windows have moved more than once in 2026 (reports show both a May 15 extension and a May 31 closure for the last cycle) — always confirm live status on the official seed fund portal before you build your application timeline around it.
🗺️ State-Level Grants — Today’s Spotlight: Karnataka + Maharashtra
Karnataka just opened the 25th call for ELEVATE on May 25, 2026 — and for the first time, all four tracks are live simultaneously: ELEVATE General (all sectors), ELEVATE Shakti (51%+ women-owned ventures), ELEVATE Unnati (SC/ST founders), and ELEVATE Aspire (Tier-2/3 innovators beyond Bengaluru). Each offers a one-time grant of up to ₹50 lakh, released in two milestone-linked tranches. On top of that, January 2026 brought ELEVATE NxT, a deep-tech-only track offering up to ₹1 crore for startups in AI, robotics, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotech, cybersecurity and green energy. Apply via eitbt.karnataka.gov.in/startup.
Maharashtra continues to run its MSInS Seed Fund alongside the ₹500 crore CM Maha-Fund, with financial institutions disbursing ₹5–10 lakh loans under the scheme (loan-based, not equity-free grants — plan your cap table accordingly). Details and applications: maharashtra.gov.in and the MSInS portal.
Tomorrow’s spotlight rotates to Tamil Nadu and Telangana — bookmark this page if you’re building in the south.
📈 Mid-Level & Growth Stage Funding (Series A Ready)
| Program | Focus | Apply Link |
|---|---|---|
| SIDBI Venture Capital (FFS-backed AIFs) | Equity investment via empanelled VC funds | sidbivcf.in/en/funds/ffs |
| DST NIDHI | Deep-tech validation & scale-up support | nidhi.dst.gov.in |
| National SC/ST Hub | Credit facilitation, vendor development, marketing support | scsthub.in |
| WEP (Women Entrepreneurship Platform, NITI Aayog) | Mentorship, funding access, market linkages for women founders | wep.gov.in |
| SBI Startup Loan | Collateral-free term loans for asset-light startups | sbi.co.in |
🌍 Global Programs Open to Indian Startups
| Program | Amount | Apply Link |
|---|---|---|
| Google for Startups Accelerator: India | Equity-free, 3-month hybrid cohort (Jun–Sep 2026), for AI-first Seed-to-Series A startups | startup.google.com/programs/accelerator/india |
| Google for Startups Cloud Program | Up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits over 2 years | cloud.google.com/startup |
| AWS Activate | Up to $100,000 in AWS credits (pre-Series B, <10 yrs old) | aws.amazon.com/activate |
| Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub | Up to $150,000 in Azure credits | microsoft.com/startups |
| Y Combinator | $500K standard deal | ycombinator.com/apply |
| Sequoia Surge (Peak XV) | Part of a $600M 8th-edition fund, backed by Peak XV’s $1.3B raise | peakxv.com/surge |
| EU Horizon (India-eligible calls) | Grants for research & innovation collaborations | ec.europa.eu/horizon-europe |
⏰ Upcoming Deadlines This Week
- Multiple grants closing 6–13 July 2026, including NextUnicorn, Exim Bank, Startup World Cup, and the 100+ Accelerator — several close today (13 July), so verify status immediately.
- NIDHI Seed Support Scheme (NIDHI-SSS): 19 July 2026.
- Karnataka ELEVATE (25th call) and ELEVATE NxT remain open — track-specific deadlines are rolling, so don’t wait on these.
Always cross-check live deadlines on the scheme’s official .gov.in page before finalising your application calendar — cohort dates shift often in 2026.
💡 Founder Tip of the Day
Don’t apply to schemes one at a time — stack them by stage, not by ministry. A pre-seed founder can combine SISFS (equity-free grant + debt) with a state grant like Karnataka’s ELEVATE (which doesn’t require SISFS funding as a prerequisite) and AWS Activate or Google Cloud credits for infrastructure — three non-dilutive sources running in parallel, with zero overlap in what each committee is evaluating. The only rule: read each scheme’s fine print on “prior government funding received” disclosures, and always disclose stacked support honestly in every application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need DPIIT recognition before applying to state schemes like Karnataka ELEVATE or Maharashtra’s Maha-Fund? A: Most state schemes prefer or require DPIIT Startup India recognition as a baseline eligibility filter. It’s free and typically takes 2–3 weeks via startupindia.gov.in, so founders should apply for DPIIT status well before a state grant window opens.
Q: What’s the difference between the SIDBI Fund of Funds and SAMRIDH? A: The SIDBI Fund of Funds (FFS/FoF 2.0) invests government capital into SEBI-registered AIFs, which then invest equity into startups — it’s indirect. SAMRIDH is a direct co-funding grant of up to ₹40 lakh routed through MeitY-empanelled accelerators to de-risk early commercialisation for tech startups specifically.
Q: Is the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) still accepting applications in July 2026? A: Reports on SISFS’s 2026 cohort status conflict — some sources cite a May 15 extension, others a May 31 closure. Confirm current status directly on seedfund.startupindia.gov.in before planning around it; a new cohort window may open later in the year.
Q: My startup crossed ₹100 crore turnover — am I still eligible for DPIIT recognition? A: Yes. Under the February 2026 redefinition, the standard turnover cap for startup recognition rose to ₹200 crore, and a new Deep Tech Startup category allows up to ₹300 crore turnover with 20 years of recognition for IP-intensive ventures.
This is published on beststartup.in — India’s startup news platform dedicated to making every Indian entrepreneur proud and informed.
